Does this sounds right? [Nitrox course]

[Marek K]

This is what should be done during the course.

A...ha.

Wonder what they mean by "predive equipment setup"... Where to stick the tank sticker?

 

[John_B]

When I did my IANTD Nitrox class I still had to do the dives (don't know if IANTD has changed this since then), but it was more of an independent exercise. Given the dive charter's (Pompano area) scheduled trips, I had to order my own mix, analyze the actual tanks, mark the tanks, develop contingency plans in case the charter went to other locations with different depths, and know the MOD for the mixes as well as what my own personal hard floor would be. The instructor approved the plan and verified my mixes and the numbers and I went and did the dives -- no instructor on the boat. As it was explained to me, doing the dives (at least at that point in time) was to drive home the seriousness of analyzing nitrox and knowing the MODs. Afterwards the instructor checked my log book and I got my card in the mail.

Planning the dives is one thing, being willing to do the dives is another. Like most other things in scuba education, though, I'd guess this too will go the way of the dodo bird... :shrug:

That said, these days I just dive EAN32 because, IMO, it simplifies all the factors that didn't need to be complicated for rec diving anyway. YMMV, but probably not by much.

John

 

[scubapatton]

Hey, if the shop is going to give you two free fills of Nitrox, use 'em.

You have the training to perform the dives, just make sure you analyze the tanks before you leave the shop - esp if you do not have your own O2 analyzer. Then use the tanks and thank them for the course...

PADI does in fact not require dives anymore - they used to though.

If possible, get the cell number of your instructor though. Let him or her know when you are going and where. Then the day of the dive, you can call them if you have a question, etc. That would be acceptable as "indirect supervision." The instructor just needs to be accessible...

 

[ODC diver]

Padi LDS usually have the class one of two ways. Either you complete only the class and are certified or if you like you can complete the class and go on a couple of dives with the Instructor. Either way you are a Eanx diver once the class room portion is complete. You should be able to plan your own dives and keep your buoyancy correct for the depth of the Mix. Also the cost would very depending if dives are involved or not.

 

[alicatfish]

Thanks again for all the replies - very helpful!

We did our required dives yesterday...sort of....look for my next thread on accident and incidents...

Anyway, an instructor did indeed meet us and show us how to analyze the tanks. And we recorded them in the log. Stickers? What stickers? Then we did the two dives...sort of.... by ourselves.

 

[Marek K]

Stickers? What stickers?

The stickers or decals you put on your tanks after you analyze the contents -- to show what the mix is, what the MOD is, and your name. Their use certainly varies from operation to operation. But it's a good way to keep track of which tanks are yours.

I read your other thread about the horrible dive. Very sorry about that.

 

[ronbeau]

SSI doesn't require a dive for the EAN course, either; at least it didn't when I took Nitrox.

So you could say, technically, the next few Nitrox dives after that were unsupervised check out dives.

J

NAUI has two different levels of Nitrox training.

If you just take the class but don't do the dives you get a Nitrox Recognition card. If you do the two dives you get a Nitrox Diver certification card which can be used as a regular "C" card.

I am not positive but the way I understand it is that anyone can take the "Nitrox Recognition" course but only certified divers can take the "Nitrox Diver" course for obvious reasons.

There was no difference is cost at my LDS so my family went the Nitrox Diver route since it gives you one card that can be used as both a "C" card and a Nitrox certification card.

From the NAUI web site

...

After your exam, you can qualify for the Nitrox recognition card, or go ahead and complete two dives to receive your Nitrox Diver certification card. And, your NAUI instructor can integrate your Nitrox course into your Scuba Diver course!

 

[uncleavi]

I am a multi Agency Nitrox Instructor and the only thing you are doing on the dive is breathing in and out. The thing you are learning is how not to hurt yourself.
Are you learning in Eilat? I live in Alaska and have Dual American / Israeli Citizenship and will tell you there is a lot of great diving in this world and you need to know one thing in diving. There is only two laws in diving, Physics and Physiology.
ANDI has a solid course and they are quite conservative and put together well thought out materials.
Now, be safe and have fun

 

[padiscubapro]

I'm taking the ANDI Nitrox course. We're done with the quizzes and classroom portion and have to do the remaining 2 checkout dives.

The dive shop is having us do the dives by ourselves. No instructor. We have 25 dives under our belt - technically enough to dive alone. But I thought that an instructor would be there to plan our dives with us, or at least make sure we're planning our dives correctly. But, no; we're on our own.

The woman at the dive shop explained that specialty courses are "different" than OW and AOW. Obviously. But we're still here to learn something. If no one is going to be there to make sure that we're planning correctly, then why even bother with the check-out dive requirement?

In your experience, is this how the Nitrox courses works?

The official requirement for CSU is indirect supervision (sometimes things get lost in translation)... However many instructors directly supervise the dives..

Normally indirect supervision is taken as there is an instructor on site, will supervise the initial analysis of the gas and dive plan, then review the dive afterwards.. If the students followed the plan, and obeyed the limits and showed they understand why and how gas analysis is done, then they should be certified. There really isnt usually a need for direct supervision as these are certified divers, diving withing their ow limits, the only change is breathing a richer gas. Personally I directly supervise my students..

The most important part of the dive happens before the dive, its the PROPER gas analysis and knowing what limits not to exceed..

 

[oren413]

alicatfish, where in israel are you? The SSI course here has the same old class sessions and quizzes, and gives you two instructed dives. What are you paying for your nitrox course?